World’s Oldest Living Man Turns 115

ABC News(TOKYO) -- Japanese centenarian Jiroemon Kimura is proving that a sense of humor may truly be the secret to longevity. On his 115th birthday, he faced reporters gathered at his home in Kyotango City west of Kyoto, with a smile and a brief message – in English.

“Thank you very much. You are very kind man,” Kimura said, as photographers gave out a collective “ohhh,” surprised by his language fluency.

The oldest living man in the world, Kimura is just 237 days shy of the oldest living person, according to the Guinness Book of World Records. That title belongs to supercentenarian Besse Cooper, who lives in Monroe, Ga.

Kimura was born in 1897, and worked at the local post office until he retired at the age of 65.